OG Himalayan is back — and the competition is heating up!

Royal Enfield has brought back the spirit of the OG Himalayan 411 in a much-improved avatar — the Himalayan 440.

And this isn’t just a cosmetic upgrade. The Himalayan 440 gets a 443cc long-stroke engine producing 25.4 bhp of power and 34 Nm of torque, giving it a healthy bump over the old Himalayan 411. The 440’s torque also arrives lower in the rev range, which should suit its relaxed, adventure-touring character.

The Scram 440 had noticeably fewer vibrations than the Himalayan 411, so the Himalayan 440 is also expected to be more refined and capable of cruising comfortably at around 100 km/h on highways, while still retaining that tractor-like torque that made the old Himalayan so good at low speeds and on rough roads.

Priced at ₹2.29 lakh ex-showroom, the Himalayan 440 is an exciting proposition for buyers. But more importantly, it has made the competition in the adventure motorcycle segment even hotter.

And Royal Enfield isn’t the only one bringing something new.

Honda’s upcoming CB500 is another motorcycle that could shake up the segment, especially if Honda manages to price it aggressively.

But the biggest headache for buyers could come from another familiar name — Hero Xpulse.

With the Xpulse 421 also expected to launch in a similar price bracket, buyers could soon have a very welcome headache on their hands.

The biggest difference could be their engines.

The Xpulse 421 is expected to have a more high-revving character, while the Himalayan 440 is likely to stick to its relaxed, torque-heavy personality. That could leave buyers choosing between a motorcycle built for relaxed cruising and touring, and one that offers a more energetic, high-revving performance.

And honestly, that’s exactly what this segment needs.

The global markets are also waiting for the return of the Himalayan 411, making the revival of this platform even more interesting.

As a motorcycle enthusiast, I couldn’t be happier to see this competition heating up.

Himalayan 440, Xpulse 421, CB500 — the adventure motorcycle segment is about to get very interesting. And we’re all here for it.